Some of the Monaco motorhomes gathered at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, Ind., for an owners rally. Photo courtesy of the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Escapees RV Club is not the only RV group assembling this year at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, Ind.

Some 2,500 RVs are expected during 17 RV rallies and groups meeting at the fairgrounds, starting next month.

The fairgrounds has hosted RV travel rallies since the mid-1970s.

“Over the past decade we have focused on RV rallies as our main source of ‘non-fair’ revenue,” said Kristine Ambrosen, marketing director. “It makes sense for our facility to be used to host these gatherings. We already have the camping facilities, large buildings and staff in place due to the Elkhart County 4-H Fair. If it wasn’t for the RV rallies, the majority of our facilities would remain idle 11 months a year.”

Not only do the RV rallies benefit the fair facilities, they also contribute to the local tourism, bringing in millions of dollars.

Elkhart County has been labeled the RV Capital of the World, where over 50% of RV’s are manufactured.

“We want to support the RVing lifestyle in any small way we can because it benefits our community and the livelihood of many of our neighbors,” Ambrosen said. “Our staff views our regular RV-ers as more than business associates, in many cases they have become our friends. We look forward to seeing them each year if it is with an organized rally or they just stop in for a few nights when they are passing through.”

The fairgrounds also hosts year-round public camping.

The following is a list of this season’s rallies and groups and the dates they will be visiting the fairgrounds: